Rangers: VAR audio over penalty decision yet to be released shows 'lack of transparency'
- Published
Why did Rangers not get penalty for Johnston handball?
Rangers are "perplexed and concerned" with the Scottish FA's handling of the Old Firm penalty decision and say the governing body is showing an "unacceptable lack of transparency".
Rangers, who say the SFA will not meet them until at least Wednesday, asked for VAR audio to be released after being denied a penalty at Celtic Park.
The ball appeared to hit the hand of Celtic's Alistair Johnston in the box.
No penalty was given after a VAR review and the home side won the game 2-1.
"Despite repeated requests, the SFA has so far failed to disclose the VAR audio to allow the club to understand the process around the non-award of a penalty," said a Rangers spokesperson.
"Rangers officials stand ready to meet in-person or virtually with the SFA at any time to hear and discuss the audio.
"However, the SFA is refusing to both share the VAR audio and meet until at least Wednesday, five days after the Old Firm match and after the next round of Scottish Premiership fixtures.
"This is clearly unacceptable and heightens Rangers' concerns over the lack of transparency, for which the need is urgent."
Rangers say they are also concerned the SFA released footage during the second half that showed Ibrox forward Abdallah Sima was offside in the build-up to the incident.
The Ibrox club have questioned the SFA's reason for releasing the graphic given they believe the penalty was denied because VAR official Willie Collum decided a handball offence had not taken place.
"Rangers have learned no penalty was awarded as Willie Collum concluded a handball offence had not occurred," continued the spokesperson.
"While the club and most observers are astonished by this 'professional' view, we remain perplexed and concerned about the SFA's motivations for sharing an offside image with broadcasters during the second half, when this was not the original reason the penalty was not awarded.
"England's Premier League and other leading European Leagues operate on a 'nothing to hide' basis, where open communication and full transparency are available to clubs and the public on contentious VAR calls in a timely manner. Our governing body would do well to heed that same mantra."
After the game Rangers manager Philippe Clement said the incident was his "biggest frustration" on a day when Celtic increased the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to eight points over their city rivals, albeit having played two games more.
"If there's a clear handball, I don't understand why it's not given as a penalty," he said. "It's a clear thing, so I'm curious about it.
"There was no communication towards me. And, if the communication is that Sima is offside, I'm not a referee, but there should have been a clear signal from VAR for offside.
"Then everyone knows the decision. There was no communication at that moment. Otherwise, the signal of the referee is not correct. So there's been a mistake and it's clear for everyone to see."
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